July 21, 2014

At first, I didn't have a plan for using all the text fabrics I've acquired over the last year or so. I just bought obscene quantities of fabric and watched my stash grow. Eventually, I "destashed" some of it after the realization that I won't live long enough to use it all. It took a while to choose a design. I wanted to use small pieces of text fabrics in the background so that snippets of words, letters and numbers appeared throughout the background randomly. I also wanted to use color prints for the main fabrics, but wanted to use more text fabrics than color. Here's what happened.

This is only a portion of the quilt top that's finished -- I have a long way to go. But I've had so much fun working on it that I decided to share the instructions in case you'd like to sew along with me. If you don't have any text fabrics, you can always use "low-volume" backgrounds instead. Or a combination of both!

I shared the instructions with a couple of my Instagram friends who are fellow text fabric junkies. They've been busy making quilts of their own. I'm hoping Peggy (Stitchin with Peg) will be blogging about her finished finished quilt soon. You can see it on her Instagram feed, too (paront1222). It's fabulous! Peggy made 10" blocks using both text fabrics and low-volume prints.

Susan (yardgrl60 at Instagram) doesn't have a blog, but will be sharing her project soon on her Instagram feed. She's making 7 1/2" blocks using text fabrics with subtle color prints. If you know Susan, you'll recognize her signature style. I love everything she makes.

The instructions below are for a 60" square quilt, with options for two different block sizes. Use 2" strips for the smaller 7 1/2" finished block, and 2 1/2" strips for the larger 10" finished block. I've used the smaller block in my quilt, but the 10" block is easier to make, and you won't need as many blocks. The instructions provide for a certain number of 2" or 2 1/2" strips, but I used as many fabrics as I could find, sometimes using only scraps or partial strips of text fabrics. And I used only scraps for the colored squares. If you need a little help deciding which block size to use, try making test blocks of each size before cutting your "real" fabric. I threw together the instructions after I made a lot of blocks, so I haven't tested the instructions. If you notice anything weird, just let me know.

For each block, arrange the pieces as shown in the illustrations below. (The first illustration shows the measurements of the pieces for a 7 1/2" finished block; the second illustration shows the measurements of the pieces for a 10" finished block.) Sew together the pieces in vertical rows, pressing the seam allowances toward the dark fabric squares. Then sew the vertical rows together, pressing the seam allowances in the direction indicated by the arrows. If you follow the pressing directions, the seams will nestle, you'll hear birds singing, and a rainbow will appear. Probably.

Layout for 7 1/2" finished block.

﻿
﻿

Layout for 10" finished block.

﻿
﻿

Finished Block

Here are the 10" and 7 1/2" blocks side by side, just for perspective.

SEWING THE ROWS TOGETHER

Sew the blocks together in horizontal rows, rotating every other block a quarter turn. Press the seam allowances in the direction indicated by the arrows. Sew the rows together; press the seam allowances in the same direction.
﻿

Layout for 7 1/2" finished blocks. Quilt measures 60" x 60".

﻿﻿

Layout for 10" finished blocks. Quilt measures 60" square.

So there you go! Hope you'll grab a stack of fabrics and sew along with me. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me (link in profile) or leave a comment here. Have fun!

I think I have as many text fabrics as you do but I needed some ideas. This is a great one. I also have some wonderful coloured text fabrics that I could use in the chains. Oh no....another start but I just completed two tops.

Love it!! It reminds me of photographs from the Depression of folks who "wallpapered" their walls with newspaper & magazine cutouts. Now that I've increased my stash of text fabrics under your tutelage, I can't wait to give this a try!

Who knew there were so many text fabrics? Looks like another collection will be started. Thanks for the directions for this quilt. I'll have to use low-volume fabrics as I only seem to have one text fabric in my stash. At the moment!

I've never seen anybody with so many text prints. Any quilt made with those would be doubly enjoyable--admire the beauty of the design, and sit and read a while. Great fun! Thanks for the excellent directions, Kim. This looks like a pattern to try for sure, maybe with my neutrals I have left from a couple projects.

Absolutely love this quilt. Wow. I just started collecting text fabric. I will be making this quilt as soon as I collect enough word fabric. Look forward to seeing the others quilts too. Thanks for the pattern and inspiration Kathie

I love it. I have been collecting text prints but don't know if I have enough yet. Maybe I should just jump I. And get started and continue to collect along the way. Thanks for sharing the inspiration and pattern.

LOVE this! This is so cool! This gives me an idea. I wonder what it would look like if you did various colored squares for the background and various light (white & off-white) tonals &/or blenders for the chains. Might have to make a doll quilt to see how it would look.

Love the tutorial - I just finished (as in it's still smoking) a low volume quilt. You can see it on my blog - doniquilts.blogspot.com And surprise, surprise I still have more word fabric galore! I loved working with it. I don't think text fabric will ever die down. After all - there are still scads of "I Spy" fabric and that has be decades!!